The United States called the removal of Assad from power a priority goal

The departure of Bashar al-Assad as President of Syria is not a priority for the United States. This statement was made by the U.S. permanent representative to the UN, Nikki Haley on Thursday, March 30, according to Reuters.

“Our challenge is to understand how to proceed and with whom we must work to change the situation for the citizens of the Arab Republic,” said Haley. She added that Washington “does not intend to focus on Assad’s departure, as did the previous US administration”.

Previously, on 30 March, U.S. Secretary of state Rex Tillerson said that the fate of Bashar al-Assad must be decided by the citizens of the country.

On 10 February, the Syrian President said he was ready to leave his post as soon as he loses the support of the Syrian people. The leader of the Arab Republic noted that this is his principled position.

Former US President Barack Obama in August 2011 stated that to resolve the Syrian crisis, Assad will have to resign as head of state. The United States considers it an illegitimate ruler because, according to them, the weapons were used, including chemical against his own people. By September 2015, his administration eased its position on this issue, and the then Secretary of state John Kerry said that the timing of the resignation of Assad must be determined through negotiations, Reuters reports.

Bashar al-Assad, son of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, head of state since 2000. In June 2014, was re-elected for a third term.